From Aristotle’s POETICS



from Aristotle’s POETICS

THE THREE UNITIES – Aristotle called for three essential elements to unify a tragedy

1. Time – one day (the actual plot enacted covers no more than a twenty-four hour period)

*previous events (exposition) my be referred to, but

are not actually performed in the play.

2. Place – one setting where the action is performed

*references can be made to other sites, but all of

the action of the play should be in one place.

3. Action— story should revolve around one primary plot

Aristotle’s Theory of Tragedy

pp.472 – Tragedy is “ …an imitation of an action that is serious,

complete, possessing magnitude; in embellished

language . . . in the mode of action and

not narrated; and effecting through pity

and fear, a catharsis”

The Tragic Hero

1. a noble hero or heroine – essentially of good character.

*neither a paragon of virtue nor completely wicked

2. tragic flaw or mistake

hamartia – an “error in judgment” ; a mistake

hubris-- the character flaw of PRIDE –a combination

of a the hero’s desire to achieve power or a goal with an arrogance, a haughtiness that compromises

reason and the warnings of the gods.

Tragic Structure of the Plot

1. “Reversal” or reversal of fortune -- the peripeteia (peripety)

2. “Recognition” – the anagnorisis (the “knowing”) moment – the

Change from ignorance to awareness

3. “Suffering” – the pathos -- the element of a destructive or painful act causing the viewer to sympathize or empathize with the hero.

4. Audience response of catharsis – the mixture of pity and fear, an emotional purging.

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Oedipus the King

Oedipus at Colonus

Antigone

Oedipus – King of Thebes

Jocasta – Oedipus’ wife

Creon – Oedipus’ brother-in-law – brother of Jocasta

Laius – Former king of Thebes and husband of Jocasta, father of Oedipus

Antigone – Oedipus’ daughter

Ismene – Oedipus’ daughter

Eteocles – Oedipus’ son

Polyneices - Oedipus' son

Oedipus at Colonus – Play about Oedipus, after he is banished to Colonus.

Antigone – Play about the time after the Thebes’ war after both brothers have been killed in civil war. Creon declares that Eteocles will be honored and Polyneices disgraced and not buried properly. Antigone buries him and is imprisoned and kills herself.

Cadmus – Founder of Thebes whose sin against Apollo caused his descendants to be cursed. Cadmus killed the god’s favorite snake.

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